Russia has shared its forces helped to repel Saturday's attempted coup in Niger. Explosions and gunfire rang out across capital, Niamey, early in the this this morning, including at a key military airbase and the presidential palace. Hours later, Niger's authorities shared the rebellion had been contained.

Nigerien forces had repelled the attack "with the assistance of servicemen of the African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defence", the foreign ministry in Moscow said on Sunday. The ministry also said it would continue to support Niger in its fight against "extremists", but that the situation was now under the control of the legitimate authorities headed Russia's African Corps has become a key security partner for multiple military governments in the Sahel, who have been struggling to contain long-running jihadist insurgencies.

Core Findings and Detailed Timeline

War ‘tour’, football and graffiti: How Russia is trying to influence Africa How has Niger changed since the coup? The Alliance of Sahel States - composed of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso - shared the attempted coup was "a betrayal The authorities have not shared how many soldiers were involved in the attempted coup, nor how many casualties there were.

Niger's military ruler, Gen Tiani, who was sworn in as its president last year after he deposed its elected leader, has also not publicly addressed the incident. The nation's state broadcaster showed footage of several alleged mutineers being arrested On Sunday, Niger Press Agency reported that commercial activity was returning to normal, with petrol stations, shops and other businesses reopening.

Supporters of the government gathered at a public square in central Niamey in support of the security forces and Tiani's government. Air Base 101, the military site attacked on Saturday, is part of the Diori Hamani airport complex. It hosts Nigerien military aircraft and drones, as well as an Alliance of Sahel States counter-terrorism unit.

Broader Implications and Future Outlook

Russian and Italian forces are also based there, according to news agency Reuters. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are all military-ruled countries that have cut ties with Western partners and strengthened their co-operation with Russia. But jihadist violence remains widespread in all three countries, despite the shift in alliances.

For Niger's government, Saturday's mutiny highlights that the military is dealing not only with an external insurgency, but also signs of discontent within its own ranks. The airbase where the mutiny began had itself been targeted twice Nigerien authorities say security forces have increased patrols around key sites in Niamey following the attempted takeover, including the main airport entrance and the presidential pavilion.

Three West African juntas have turned to Russia. Now the US wants to engage them Niger drops French place names to honour local heroes A security officer stands guard on the street following the attempted coup Russia has shared its forces helped to repel Saturday's attempted coup in Niger.

Explosions and gunfire rang out across capital, Niamey, early in the this this morning, including at a key military airbase and the presidential palace.

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Hours later, Niger's authorities shared the rebellion had been contained. The ministry also shared it would continue to support Niger in its fight against "extremists", but that the situation was now under the control of the legitimate authorities headed Russia's African Corps has become a key security partner for multiple military governments in the Sahel, who have been struggling to contain long-running jihadist insurgencies.

War ‘tour’, football and graffiti: How Russia is trying to influence Africa How has Niger changed since the coup? The Alliance of Sahel States - composed of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso - shared the attempted coup was "a betrayal The authorities have not shared how many soldiers were involved in the attempted coup, nor how many casualties there were.

Niger's military ruler, Gen Tiani, who was sworn in as its president last year after he deposed its elected leader, has also not publicly addressed the incident. The nation's state broadcaster showed footage of several alleged mutineers being arrested On Sunday, Niger Press Agency reported that commercial activity was returning to normal, with petrol stations, shops and other businesses reopening.

Supporters of the government gathered at a public square in central Niamey in support of the security forces and Tiani's government. Air Base 101, the military site attacked on Saturday, is part of the Diori Hamani airport complex.

It hosts Nigerien military aircraft and drones, as well as an Alliance of Sahel States counter-terrorism unit.

Russian and Italian forces are also based there, according to news agency Reuters. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are all military-ruled countries that have cut ties with Western partners and strengthened their co-operation with Russia. But jihadist violence remains widespread in all three countries, despite the shift in alliances.

The airbase where the mutiny began had itself been targeted twice Nigerien authorities say security forces have increased patrols around key sites in Niamey following the attempted takeover, including the main airport entrance and the presidential pavilion. Three West African juntas have turned to Russia.

Now the US wants to engage them Niger drops French place names to honour local heroes